Garment clasp



E. E. NORTON GARMENT CLAS P June 20, 1939.

Filed April 28, 1937 No fan Patented June 20, 1939 UNITED STATES a; orncs GARMENT CLASP Application April 28, 1937, Serial No. 139,437

14 Claims.

This invention relates to clasps for garments such as corsets, in which the adjacent edges are brought together in edge-abutting relation.

An object of this invention is to provide a clasp 'which is easily manipulated to open and close the garment, yet which will not inadvertently open as a result of movements of the wearers body.

Another object is to provide a clasp which, besides having the above advantages, is ecognomical to make and to incorporate in a garment.

A further object is to provide a clasp which, while easily operated to close and open the garment, avoids tilting and incidental and annoying gaping prevalent in clasps other than the studtype clasp in common use.

These and other objects of this invention are realized by features and advantages hereinafter appearing, including the provision of such oooperating clasp members on the adjacent flexible strips or stays that bowing of one member relative to the other is necessary to fasten or to undo the clasp, and no amount of bending of the two stays together and no tendency to move one stay -bodily longitudinally of the other will cause the clasp to open.

An important feature of this invention is the provision of an improved undergarment clasp which has no outwardly projecting parts to show 3 through the wearers dress, or to touch any of the undergarments or the dress of the wearer and Figure l is a rear elevation of the adjacent I,

edges of an open-front corset, showing the present invention as applied thereto, and showing a protective flap folded back.

Fig. 2 is'a similar view, but showing the adjacent edges of the corset being brought together and the clasp partially in place.

Fig. 3 shows the clasp members of the present invention in the positions which they occupy prior to being fastened together, the adjacent portions of the corset being shown in dot-and-dash lines.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

5 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is an edge view of the clasp of the present invention, showing in dot-and-dash lines the position which one of the members must take in fastening and undoing the clasp.

Fig.7 is aperspective View of one of the clasp 5 members, showing its relation to the edge of the corset within which it is placed, and showing 'a guard strip for preventing undue wear of the. corset material by the other clasp member.

Fig. 8 is a view like Fig. 3, but showing the strips or stays of uniform width, rather than tapered as in Fig. 3.

The clasp of the present invention is adapted to secure together the adjacent edges of any garment or the like, but is particularly advantageous when used to secure together the front opening 0'- of a corset. 1

Accordingly, in the accompanying drawing, the

clasp is shown as applied to a corset, the adjacent edges ii! and H of which are to be fastened together by the clasp. As is customary, 15

the edges l0 and H have provided within the material of the corset unjointed flexible strips or stays l2 and 13 respectively. These strips may be tapered upwardly as-shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3,

or they may be of uniform width, as indicated at 20' the corset were secured together by providing, on 25..-

say the flexible strip 12, a series of headed studs and providing, on say the strip l3, projecting ears having keyhole slots to receive the studs and hold the two strips together in substantial edgeabutting relation. I v i This form of clasp has been used for many years, for, while it was diflicult at times to hook the studs and slotted ears together due to the fact that one might become unhooked while at tempting to hook another, when all were hooked 35? the wearer had substantial security against the corset opening inadvertently, and, because of the number of studs and lugs, gaping of the'corset at the open front with its consequent danger of pinching the body of the wearer was avoided.

coming inadvertently opened, and is a great deal r easier to fasten and undo than the common fastening heretofore referred to. This is because the corset, while maintaining the normal edge-.1 abutting relation of the edges l0 and I; is fastened and undone by a relative movement. be,--

tween the two edges Ill and II of the corset and especially between the two flexible strips I2 and I3 thereof, which movement is not reproduced by any movement of the body of the person wearing the corset.

To accomplish this, one of the flexible strips, the strip I2 in the form of the invention herein shown, is provided near its top end with a socket I5 and near its bottom end with a socket I6, and the other flexible strip, the strip I3 in the form of the invention shown, is provided with a tongue I! near its upper end and a tongue I8 near its lower end. The tongue I I is received by the socket I5 while the tongue I8 is received by the socket I6, and, when these tongues are properly located in their sockets, the edge III of the corset is securely fastened to the edge II.

The sockets I5 and I6 and the tongues I! and I8 are so arranged that they are on the inner side of the corset, leaving the outer side smooth,

and free of any projections.

According to the present invention in its broader aspects, the tongues I1 and I8 may be made a part of, or attached to, the flexible strip I3 in any desired manner, so that the tongues may lie in superposed relation to the strip I2 and may extend between the strip I2 (or the covering material overlying the strip I2) and the sockets I5 and I5. However, for reasons which will hereinafter appear, it is preferable that the tongues I! and I8 be formed integrally with a third flexible strip I9 which may be fastened to the strip I3 by lugs 20.

In the form of the invention herein disclosed, three lugs 20 are provided, an upper, a lower, and an intermediate one. The upper and lower lugs 20 are so placed that when the two parts of the clasp are brought together as in Fig. 1, the upper edge of the upper lug 20 engages the lower edge of the socket I5 while the lower edge of the lower lug 20 engages the upper edge of the lower socket I6, thereby limiting the longitudinal movement of the strip I2 relative to the strip I3. The upper and lower lugs need not, of course, be in direct contact with their related sockets I5 and I6, but they should be so disposed that the relative longitudinal bodily movement of the two strips I2 and I3 is so limited that the tongues I1 and I8 may not be withdrawn from their sockets I5 and I6 by such bodily longitudinal movement.

When it is desired to close the front opening of the corset, the tongue I! is slid (by longitudinal movement of the strip I3 relative to the strip I2) into the socket I5, and this may be done even while the edge II of the corset is disposed at an angle to the edge II], as illustrated in Fig. 2. The edge II is then swung toward the edge I0, and since, during this operation, the tongue I! fulcrums on the socket I5, the operation is comparatively easy, even though considerable force is exerted thereby to tightly draw the corset around the body of the wearer, and this without danger of the tongue I! slipping out of the socket I5. When the tongue I8 at the lower end of the clasp is superposed on the socket I6, pressure is exerted on the lower end of the flexible strip I3 so as to cause it to bow as shown in Fig. 6, thereby in effect shortening the flexible strip I3 and permitting the tongue I8 to be slid into the socket I6 when the bowing pressure is released. Likewise, in undoing the clasp, pressure is applied to the lower end of the flexible strip I3 independently of the strip I2 so as to bow the strip I3 and cause the tongue I8 to be withdrawn from the socket.

With this form of clasp which requires the bowing of one of the strips or stays relative to the other, all danger of the clasp inadvertenly or accidentally opening is avoided because any pressure on the lower portion of the garment resulting from the movements of the body of the wearer will cause both the strip I2 and the strip I3 to flex together, and when this occurs, the effective length of the two strips is maintained uniform and the tongues remain in the sockets. It is only by the deliberate and intentional bowing of one of the strips, the strip I3 in the instant case, relative to the strip I2, that the clasp can be fastened and unfastened.

By providing the strip I9 which carries at its upper and lower ends the tongues I! and I8, and connecting this strip I9 to the strip I3 by the intermediate lug 23, tilting of the clasp with the consequent gaping of the opening is avoided. This is because when the garment is on the wearer and under a strain, such as would tend to cause tilting, the strip I9 is tightly pressed against the strip I2 or the intervening covering fabric so that the two are held relatively immovable, and, with the strip I9 so anchored, the intermediate lug 20 anchors the intermediate portion of the strip I3 to the strip I2.

When the corset is applied to the wearer, a soft protective flap 2| lies against the body of the wearer or the undergarments, and is in position to protect the body from contact with the clasp parts. Hence, in inserting the tongue Il in the socket I5, it is guided into the socket between the flap 2I and the fabric of the corset overlying the strip I2. When the lower parts of the clasp are brought together, the tongue I8 and the flexible strip I9 likewise are covered by the flap 2I and do not contact with the body of the wearer.

Not only is the clasp of the present invention advantageous from the point of operation and use, but also from the point of manufacture of the corset containing it, for, even though it is quite different in construction from the common stud-and-slot fastener above referred to, the parts of the clasp may be contained within the edges I0 and I2 of the corset in substantially the same manner as the common clasp. For this reason, the sockets I5 and I6 are made in the form of ears, a portion 22 of which is secured to the flexible strip I2, a portion 23 of which rises therefrom, and a portion 24 of which extends back upon the portion 22 in spaced relation and forms an open hook.

In making the corset, the folded-over top and bottom fabrics 25 and 26 thereof are sewed together at their adjoining edges by stitching 25a (see Fig. 7) which is skipped at two places. The strip I2 is then inserted from the back and the sockets are passed through the portions which are skipped in the stitching. Then the top and bottom fabrics 25 and 26 are provided with a line of stitching 2'! to hold the strip I2 close to the edge of the garment, and other lines of stitching 28 prevent longitudinal movement of the flexible strip I2 outwardly of the garment.

The corset-edge II is made substantially the same as the edge I0 above described, and is skipstitched at portions I la to leave slits for the lugs 20. To permit the flexible strip I3 to be inserted between the layers or plies 29a and 29 of the corset at the edge I I, the flexible strip I9 is preferably made structurally separate from the strip I3 and the lugs 20, and is only fastened to the lugs after the lugs have been passed through the slits is preferably carried by the flexible strip l2 and slits 32. with the material coupled to it by the slits 32, is

left in the material of thecorset by the skipstitching. After the strip I3 is located in desired. position, the strip I9 may be secured thereto by rivets 30.

Of course, if .desired, the strip l9 may be initially secured to the strip 13, and the edge I I may be sewed together by a special machine after the strip [3 is inserted between the upper and lower layers or plies 29a and 29 of the material.

In an expensive garment where fine or sheer material is employed, there may be danger of damaging the material and causing it to become frayed as a result of repeated' insertions of the tongue 18 in the socket 16, especially because of the fact that the strips l3 and I9 are bowed at the time the tongue enters the socket. To avoidthis, the present invention provides a protective strip of metal 3| in the vicinity of the socket Hi. This tongue may be secured in place in any desired way, but, according to the present invention, it

in such a way that it may be placed in operative position very conveniently. Since the guard strip 3| is carried by the flexible strip 12, to be effective, it must extend through the fabric 25 covering the strip I2. 1 To permit this to be done, the

fabric. 25 is provided with slits 32, preferably protected by buttonhole stitching. After the edgesof the fabrics 25 and 26 have been skipvstitched as above explained, they are laid out flat .and the guard strip 3|, which is pivotally mounted at 33 on the strip I2, is swung outwardly away from the socket [6 so that it may, with convenience, be passed out and in through the When this is done, the guard strip 3|,

above stated.

Inthe form shown, the strips .12 and I3 are surrounded by covering strips 34 of heavy materialt I In the broader aspects of the invention, the guard strip 3| may, of course, be omitted, its function being merely to prevent the tongue "3 from damaging the fabric and causing it to fray.

What has been said about the strips l2 and I3 applies in every respect to the strips I2a and I3a of Fig. 8.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of this invention and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

I claim:

1. A corset-front clasp comprising a plurality of flexible unjointed strips, the first strip and the second strip being secured to the corset at adjacent sides respectively of the opening to be closed and lying in substantially edge-abutting relation when in operative position, and the third strip being fastened to thefirst strip and underlying the second strip in superposed relation when in operative position, said second strip having. a socket adjacent, one end of the same adapted to slidably receive a tongue on the third strip while the first and second strips are angularly disposed and about which the first and second strips may fulcrum when closing the opening and forcefully tightening the corset around the body of the wearer and having a socket adjacent the other end thereof to receive a tongue on the corresponding end of the third strip, when the latter is shortened by bowing the same relative to the second strip, to hold said first and third strips to the second strip against movement apart; and means for preventing such relative longitudinal bodily movement between the first strip and the second strip as would permit said tongues to be withdrawn from the sockets.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1, in

which the last-named means includes straps conmeeting the first and third strips together.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1, in which the first and second strips are adapted to be enclosed within the fabric of the adjacent sides of the garment with the third strip and the sockets on the second strip exposed for direct engagement with each other.

4. The invention as defined in claim 1, in which the first and second strips are adapted to be enclosed within the fabric of the adjacent sides of the garment with the third strip and the sockets on the second strip exposed for direct engagement with each other, in which a piece of metal is superposed on the fabric covering the second strip in the vicinity of the one of said sockets which receives the tongue on the third strip after the latteris bowed, to protect the garment from being damaged by the said tongue. U

5. The invention as defined in claim 1, in which the sockets on the second strip are constituted by ears projecting from the second strip and each extending back upon itself to provide an open hook adapted to be passed through slits left open in the sewed end of the fabric of the end of the garment carrying and enclosing the second strip. 7

6. A corset-front clasp comprising a pair of flexible unjointed strips secured respectively to adjacent sides of the opening to be closed and lying in substantially edge-abutting relation when in operative position, oneof said strips having a socket adjacent each end thereof; laterally extending straps secured to the other strip to underlie the socket-carrying strip; and tongues carried by said laterally extending straps, each adapted to be received by one of said sockets, the distance between the outer ends of'the straps being such that one of said tongues is adapted to be inserted in its associated socket by relative longitudinal movement between the strips and the other tongue being insertable in its socket and removable therefrom only when the strip carrying the tongues is bowed relative to the strip carryin'g the sockets.

7. A corset-front clasp comprising a pair of I flexible unjoined strips secured respectively to adjacent sides of the opening to be closed and lyingin substantially edge-abutting relation when in operative position; cooperating means at one end of the strips adapted to be engaged by bodily longitudinal movement of the strips relatively in one direction to hold closed that end of the opening; anclcooperating means at the other end of the strips and so spaced from said first-mentioned means that they are adapted to be engaged and disengaged only by bowing movement of one strip relative to the other to hold closed the other end of the opening.

8, Acorset-front clasp comprising a pair of flexible unjointed strips secured respectively to adjacent sides of the opening to be closed and lying in substantially edge-abutting relation when in operative position; cooperating means at one end of the strips adapted to be engaged by bodily longitudinal movement of the strips relatively in one direction to hold closed that end of the opening; and cooperating means at the other end of the strips and so spaced from said first-mentioned means that they are adapted to be engaged and disengaged only by bowing movement of one strip relative to the other to hold closed the other end of the opening, said strips being i held against relative longitudinal bodily movement by both said cooperating means when the clasp is closed.

9. A corset-front clasp comprising a pair of flexible unjointed strips secured respectively to adjacent sides of the opening to be closed and -;and the other tongue being insertable in its associated socket and removable therefrom only when the strip carrying" the tongues is bowed relatively to the strip carrying the sockets; and means on one strip and underlying the other strip and which when pressed together by pressure of the wearers body holds the two strips together against tilting and gaping at points intermediate said sockets and tongues.

10. A corset-front clasp comprising a pair of flexible unjointed strips secured respectively to adjacent sides of the opening to be closed and lying in substantially edge-abutting relation when in operative position; cooperating means at one end of the strips adapted to be engaged ..by bodily longitudinal movement of the strips relatively in one direction to hold closed that end of the opening; cooperating means at the other end of the strips so spaced from said first-mentioned means that they can be engaged and disengaged only by bowing movement of one strip relative to the other to hold closed the other end of the opening; and means between the ends of said strips cooperating to prevent tilting of said strips and consequent gaping of the adjavcent edges of the corset.

11. A corset-front clasp comprising a pair of flexible unjointed strips secured respectively to adjacent sides of the opening to be closed and lying in substantially edge-abutting relation when in operative position; cooperating means at one end of the strips adapted to be engaged by bodily longitudinal movement of the strips relatively in one direction to hold closed that end of the opening; cooperating means at the other end of the strips so spaced from said first-mentioned means that they are engaged and disengaged only by bowing movement of one strip relative to the other to hold closed the other end of the opening; and a third strip secured to the side edge of one of the first-mentioned strips to be coextensive therewith and to underlie the other of said strips so that pressure exerted by the body of the wearer on said third strip urges it against its overlying strip, and prevents relative angular movement between the firstmentioned strips, and consequent gaps in the opening of the corset.

12. A corset-front clasp comprising a plurality of flexible unjointed strips, the flrst strip and the second strip being secured to the corset at adjacent sides respectively of the opening to be closed and lying in substantially edge-abutting relation when in operative position; a third strip; means for fastening the third strip to the first strip, including tongue-defining straps, the tongues having free ends oppositely directed, said third strip underlying the second strip in superposed relation when in operative position; and sockets spaced apart longitudinally of said second strip for interlocking relationship with the tongues of the third strip, the distance between the inner ends of the sockets being substantially equal to the distance between the outer ends of the tongue-defining straps, whereby the tongues of the third strip are engageable with the sockets of the second strip only by a combination of bending and longitudinal movement of the third strip relative to the second strip.

13. A corset-front clasp comprising a plurality of flexible unjointed strips, the first strip and the second strip being secured to the corset at adjacent sides respectively of the opening to be closed and lying in substantially edge-abutting relation when in operative position; a third strip; and means for fastening the third strip to the first strip, including tongue-defining straps, the tongues having the free ends thereof oppositely directed, said third strip underlying the second strip in superposed relation when in operative position, said second strip having sockets spaced apart longitudinally of the same for interlocking relationship with the tongues of the third strip,

the distance between the outer ends of the tongues being greater than the distance between the inner ends of the sockets, and the distance between the outer ends of the tongue-defining straps and the inner ends of the sockets being substantially equal, whereby the tongues of the third strip are engageable with the sockets of the second strip only by a combination of bending and longitudinal movement of the third strip relative to the second strip, the straps provide an impositive stop means forprecluding accidental or casual movement.

14. A corset-front clasp comprising a plurality of flexible unjointed strips, the first strip and the second strip being secured to the corset at adjacent sides respectively of the opening to be closed and lying in substantially edge-abutting relation when in operative position; a third strip; means for fastening the third strip to the first strip, including tongue-defining straps, the tongues having free ends oppositely directed, said third strip underlying the second strip in superposed relation when in operative position; and sockets spaced apart longitudinally of said second strip for interlocking relationship with the tongues of the third strip, the distance between the inner ends of the sockets being substantially equal to the distance between the outer ends of the tongue-defining straps, said straps being adapted to provide an impositive stop means for preventing accidental or casual relative movement of said strips after the tongues of the third strip are in engagement with the sockets of the second strip.

EUGENE E. NORTON. 

